An enzyme immunoassay screening test for the detection of total antinuclear antibodies

The enzyme immunoassay antinuclear antibody (EIA ANA) screening test method is a new assay format for the qualitative determination of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in human serum or plasma. This assay method collectively detects ANAs against double stranded DNA (dsDNA), SS-A/Ro, SS-B/La, Scl-70, Sm, and Sm/RNP antigens, along with serum positive for peripheral, homogeneous, speckled, nucleolar, and centromere patterns. This assay correlated well with data obtained with hemagglutination tests for specific ANA antigens, with the indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) ANA HEp-2 test, and with the Crithidia luciliae IFA test for anti-dsDNA. This new test procedure is both highly specific and sensitive and substantially decreases the time involved when screening large numbers of patient samples.